Wolf Biermann & Klaus Lenz Sextett

For 50 years, the recordings lay forgotten in Wolf Biermann's archive—a remarkable collaboration that seemed impossible in 1973. The banned singer-songwriter joined forces with Klaus Lenz, East Germany’s top bandleader, and his jazz musicians to record two of Biermann’s songs.

With no access to official studios, the team improvised: a small house in Berlin-Lichtenberg became their secret recording space. Musicians were crammed into different rooms—the organ in the kitchen, brass in the living room, drums in the hallway, and Biermann himself, guitar in hand, in the bathroom.

The result is a striking testament to creativity and defiance, captured in these extraordinary recordings.